The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-12-22
HANGED At chARLEs CITY.
Chester Bellows Paye the *.
tromeot Penalty for the murder Of
Alice Waterman.

Alice Waterman.
Charles City, Iowa, Special Tslesram.
Dec. 17.-An preparations for the hanging
Of Bellows had been completed this morn.
ing, and there was nothing to do but to
await the hour. In the morning the rural
inhabitants began to pour into the town.
AZ Q. clock around the jail was excitement.
A multitude gathered, thinking that they
would DO Afforded an opportunity to wit
ed away unqualified. Beside afew reporters,
tho sheriffs Of the different counties OF tho
state and those authorized by law mono
were to witness the execution. Believe
| last night on earth was one not soon to DO
forgotten BY the faithful death watchers.
Up to 8 o'clock he manifested the same
fearless disposition suggested by the words
begged him to tell the sheriff to hang him
early in the morning that he. might
get to hell in time for breakfast Short
" after 3 O'Clock the sheriff
entered his cell with q letter from his sic.
tor, Mrs. Waterman, the contents OF which
will never be known. The letter was hand.
ed. to Bellows. and Sheriff Clark took &C.
casion to admonish him to prepare for
eternity, az he was to be surely hanged in
lace. saying that he would laugh at him on
the gallows. The sheriff stepped from his
cell, and soon he heard the means from Bel.
lows weeping over the last written words
from devoted sister. An hour was
spent in alternate weeping and
swearing. Shortly after 10 O'Clock he
made break for liberty, raising a large
as ne was bent over feeding tho fire. He
was prevented in this and went to his cell
cot and lay down. He went to sleep right
away, and did not awaken until 4 a. M,
when he arose and again went to abusing
the guards, and demanded that he be liber.
ated. The guards gave him no satisfsc-
ton. and he again went TO bis cot, ana
slept for over an hour. He woke for the
last time on earth shortly after z, and re.
1890 the Jail enclosure was thrown open,
and the persons who had tickets passed in.
A terrible sound greeted their ears. 1t
was tho voice OF Bellows in his cell resist.
Ing the officers as they were putting tho
shackles upon him. He succeeded in in.
flicting an ugly wound by biting one OF tho
guards hands. He was forced to tho
wall and firmly bound. At 1O:43 o'clock
Sheriff Clark stepped on the platform,
Of the twelve jurymen, each respond
ing to his name. The death warrant was
then read to Bellows in his cell
and at 1O:45 the death march commenced.
The window from tho criminals cell had
been taken out and u stairway leading up
to the gallows erected. Up they assembled,
the sheriff leading, followed by his deputy.
Then came Bellows in stocking feet partly
carried by two strong men. His strength
had failed him. He took position over
the trap and stared at the audience for a
moment. his face wearing sad, detected
look. His legs were pinioned, but not a
word escaped his lips until Sheriff Clark
adjusted the moose. Then he broke
down, crying "Please don't. Please
don't. Please don't Please DON'T" The
moose was then frightened. when, in almost
inaudiable words, he said: ':l'm innocent"
His supporters stepped on either side
OF him, Sheriff Clark moved to tho rear,
and at 1886 o'clock, with that terrible lie
fresh on his lips, the trap was sprung, and
Bellows ushered into eternity. Nine min
utes after the trap dropped life was practi.
cally gone. He was cut down at Ills.
An examination proved that his neck had
been broken in two places. No relatives
witnessed the execution, and no ono would
accept the remains. 1t was buried in the
cemetery, but it is rumored that it will not
long remain there.